CFP: “Frances E.W. Harper Unearthed”

Continuing to honor the legacy of Frances E.W. Harper’s life and foster

community around the establishment of the new Frances E.W. Harper Society,

this panel aims to unearth inquiries on lesser-known aspects of Harper’s

life and work. Considering the theme of the conference, we ask participants

to explore what is still considered “underground” in the bibliography of

Harper, and what new lines of thought are provoked in unearthing such texts

and ideas that haven’t been explored or only limitedly? What secrets are

still waiting to be exposed and what do we do when we come across dead-ends

in the Harper genealogy? What do we do when a way forward is discovered?

Panel participants are welcome to think through topics that promise to

enrich the knowledge of Harper, both historically and contemporarily.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Her correspondence (with contemporaries)
• Travels to the south//Travel writing
• Religion (Protestantism particularly but this is also expansive)
• Pedagogical strategies for teaching Harper
• Archival
• Ortatory
• Involvement with the Club Movement//Black feminist praxis

Please submit an abstract up to 300 words and a brief bio by *August 25th,

2025 to nmusselman@usf.edu and myw8198@nyu.edu (there is wiggle room to

submit on the 26th and 27th)

Thank you.